Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is recovering after being admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center outside Washington on Monday, according to a Pentagon statement on Friday.
Air Force Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder, the Pentagon press secretary, said the hospitalization was because of complications from a recent elective medical procedure but that Austin should be resuming his full duties Friday.
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“At all times, the Deputy Secretary of Defense was prepared to act for and exercise the powers of the Secretary, if required,” Ryder said in a statement.
Ryder added that the hospitalization was not previously disclosed because it was an evolving situation and due to medical and privacy concerns, according to CNN.
The hospitalization occurred amid chaos in the Middle East, which included an ISIS bombing in Iran and a Department of Defense-authorized airstrike in Baghdad. A DOD official told the Washington Examiner that Austin and President Joe Biden authorized the airstrike.
“Secretary Austin did not have to affirmatively delegate his duties because by statute, the Deputy Secretary is automatically authorized to perform the duties of the Secretary if he is unable to perform them,” the official said. “Medical professionals have been consulted throughout.”
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No details on the medical procedure or its complications have been released. However, Austin was reportedly still at the medical center on Friday afternoon.
Mike Brest contributed to this report.
